Ramadan double secures Under-16 friendly victory
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The Republic of Ireland Under-16 side beat Estonia 2-0 in a friendly international at Ballyowen Park, home of the South Dublin Football League today.
Tom O’Connor’s side produced a controlled display in a tight encounter that was played in wind-swept conditions.
Ipswich Town striker Cemal Ramadan was the Irish hero on the day with both goals – one in either half.
St Kevin’s Boys defender Anthony Breslin was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 16th minute when he unleashed a rocket from distance that defender Oskar Berggren did well to head to safety.
Ramadan broke the deadlock in the 26th minute after good pressure play from Conor Melody created the opportunity and the Ipswich striker fired crisply past the impressive Estonian keeper Andreas Vaikla.
The second goal came in the 53rd minute when Ramadan caught the Estonian defence napping and raced through before drilling in a low strike from just outside the box.
Herol Riiberg brought a save from Irish keeper James Talbot in the 75th minute but on the whole the home defence was in control.
Ireland will meet the Estonians again on Thursday morning at Swords Celtic FC (11.00am).
O’Connor said: “It was a good performance considering the weather had a big impact on the play. I felt the players did very well and the performance overall in regards to how we passed the ball out from the back and through midfield.
“We created a number of chances and scored two excellent goals. They were two brilliant goals by Cemal Ramadan. He might have had a hat-trick as he also came close with a header and I’d say he was a little annoyed to come off as he was chasing a hat-trick but that’s a good way for strikers to be.
“The new lads Nathan Corkery and Anthony Dolan did particularly well. That’s pleasing because it can be hard for players coming into a squad and they may get overawed but this lads didn’t look out of place.
“We have a policy that the players who don’t start the first game will start the second one and we’ll be carrying that on. It’s what we’re very big on. The players come through the Emerging Talent Programme under Niall Harrison and we’re pleased with how they’re developing.”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: James Talbot; Colm Deasy, Danny Kane, Dan Casey, Anthony Breslin, Robbie Duggan, Anthony Dolan (Adam McDonnell 69), Conor Melody (Tom Field 75), Shane Elworthy, Cemal Ramadan (Jessie Devers 63), Nathan Corkery (Seán Byrne 53).
ESTONIA: Vaikla; Adler, Berggren, Mõttus (Krusel 63), Kask (Kummer 51), Kokla, Riiberg, Käit, Roosnupp (Reinvald 41), Rande (Makarov 51), Tauts (Golovljov 41).
